**Title: Verb Tenses in Subordinate Clauses in English**

**Introduction**

The English language, known for its complexity and flexibility, utilizes a variety of verb forms and tenses across different types of clauses to express time, aspect, mood, and voice. Understanding the use of verb tenses in subordinate clauses is crucial for grasping the nuances of English grammar and effectively conveying meaning through language. This article explores the verb tenses predominantly used in subordinate clauses, focusing on the application and examples of present-tense forms within these clauses.

**Subordinate Clauses Defined**

A subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, is a clause that provides an additional piece of information to a main clause but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Subordinate clauses depend on the main clause to provide a complete thought and consequently are integral to the complex sentence structure. Types of subordinate clauses include noun clauses, relative clauses (or adjective clauses), and adverbial clauses.

**Verb Tenses in General**

In English, verb tenses are used to express the timing of an action relative to the speaker's present moment. These tenses include but are not limited to:
- Present Tense (simple and continuous)
- Past Tense (simple and continuous)
- Future Tense (will and going to)
- Perfect Aspect (present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect)
- Perfect Continuous Aspect (present perfect continuous, past perfect continuous, and future perfect continuous)

**Usage of Present Tense in Subordinate Clauses**

The choice of verb tense in subordinate clauses typically relates to the verb tense used in the main clause, following the sequence of tenses rule in grammar. However, there are instances where the present tense specifically is favored in subordinate clauses regardless of the main clause's tense. This usage primarily occurs in two types of subordinate clauses: noun clauses and adverbial clauses.

1. **Noun Clauses**:
   Noun clauses often use the present tense when they perform the function of a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. For example:
   - She believes that honesty is the best policy.
   - I think that he is lying.
   In these sentences, "that honesty is the best policy" and "that he is lying" are noun clauses acting as the object of the verbs "believes" and "thinks" respectively, with the verbs within the clauses ("is") being in the present tense.

2. **Adverbial Clauses**:
   Adverbial clauses, which provide information about the main clause such as time, reason, condition, concession, and place, frequently employ the present tense especially when discussing general truths or habitual actions. For example:
   - Whenever he eats, he watches TV.
   - If it rains, the ground gets wet.

Furthermore, even when the main clause is in a past narrative, certain adverbial clauses might still use the present tense if they refer to general knowledge or habitual facts:
   - He was always happy when the sun is shining.

**Conclusion**

In sum, while English allows for a range of tenses in subordinate clauses, there is a clear propensity for using the present tense within these clauses under specific conditions. This usage underscores the English language's method of emphasizing the continuity or habitual nature of an action regardless of the main clause's timeframe. Grammatical accuracy in crafting these clauses not only enhances clarity but also enriches the communicative value of English prose. Subordinate clauses, versatile in their nature, illustrate the depth and precision of English syntax and its ability to adapt verb tenses to various discourse contexts.